Inking



Feb. 17, 1959 w. H. STICKNEY 2,873,673

mxmc

Filed June 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1959 w. H. STICKNEY 2,

INKING I Filed June 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I x 1. INVIIZNTOR ATTORNEY to 'its consumption.

INKING Wendell H. Stickney, Wilbraham, Mass., assignor to Diamond Gardner Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application June 21, 1957, Serial No. 667,099 13 Claims. ((31. 101-4 50) This invention relates to inking, and more particularly to devices for feeding ink at a controlled rate to rotary printing apparatus.

' In feeding'ink'to rotary printing apparatus of the type employed to mark indicia upon cartons or other articles advanced successively thereto in an endless procession, the ink must be fed at a'rate that is accurately controllable and quickly changeable. Usually, the ink is fed from a supply roll by an intermediate transfer roll to a rotatable printing roll, all of which rolls have vertically disposed axes, and the action of gravity upon the ink flowing over the peripheries of these rolls makes it imperative to control the rate at which the ink is fed.

"Theink should cover the peripheries of the rolls guniformly, and it should be fed at a rate corresponding Furthermore, .it is desirabe to be able to quickly remove and replace the ink suppy roll without stopping the printing apparatus, in order to change the color of the ink being supplied or tofldisassemble the apparatus for cleaning thereof. None of the inking devices known heretofore has adequately fulfilled all'of these requirements.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improved inking devices for rotary printing apparatus. p g

Another object of the invention "is to provide new and ratus ataccurately controllable and quickly changeable rates. i

Still another object of the inventionis *to'provide new and improved inking devices capable of being readily Ul r it ed States PatentO- the pfinting roll 10 to "rotate in a counter-clockwise direction while the Irollll rotates at the same'fspeed in improved devices for feeding ink to rotary printing apparemoved and disassembled for cleaningo'r replacement,

Without requiring stoppage of rotary printing apparatus being supplied with ink therefrom.

Othe r'objects and the nature andadvantages of'the instant invention will bepap'parent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1

Fig.1 is a schematic plan view of a rotaryprinting apparatus having associated therewith an inking device embodying the invention;

of the type of apparatus in which inking devices emequal"facility 'in' association with other types of rotary printing apparatus. For example, such inking devices maybe utilized in association with stamp cancelling machinea'and in machines for wrapping and marking various commodities,

such as loaves of bread, packages of'ci'garettes','etc." Referring to Fig. ,1, a pair or printing rolls 10 and 11 mounted rotatably on ,a pair of substantially vertically disposed shafts 12 and 13, respectively, are positioned on opposite sides of a horizontal track'14, along which ,rnolded pulp egg cartons are'advanced successively at e'qual'fintervals i'nan endless procession. The periphcries of the printing rolls 10 and 11 carry raised type for imprinting special designs and vindiciaupon opposite "sides o'f'the advancing cartons. The cartons are advanced from 'left to 'right,"as viewed in ,Fig. 1, which requires a clockwise direction.

An inking device 16 embodying the present invention ,supplies'flinkjtofthe printing roll 10 by'successive transfer alongitheperiplieries of a plurality of intermediate rolls 17, 18, 19,320 and'21. Thefrolls 18 and 2 0 are mounted penny on relativelyflfiired substantially vertically disposed shafts 22" and 23, respectively, which along ,with ithefshaft 12 are aligned perpendicularly to thetrack 14. The ,imermeai temus 17, 19'and 21 arentounted rotatahly'fon relatively movable substantially vertically dispo sedshafts"24, 25 and 26, respectively. .In a conventional manner, the shafts 24, 25' and 26 are each mounted on ,a free swinging endfofa plurality of oscillatable arms 27, 28 and 29, respectively, which are pivoted at their opposite ends and are arranged to resiliently urge the rolls 17,19 and 21 toward therolls 10, 18and 20, in order to maintain constantly an ink transfer path by peripheral contact between these rolls.

'The ink transfer "device 16 embodying the invention comprises an opentopped cylindrical reservoir 30 having .afiat b'ottomfl32 PiIlQYided withffour elongated arcuate perforations 34 spaced fequally .circum'ferentially "thereof 45 and about rnidway' between the center and the outer .peripheryfthereof, as is best. shown ,,in .l igffl. 'Ink ffiows" by gravity through the per orations" .34 into an ,annular cavity .35 formedin the interior of a; cylindrical Lupper rollisectionfio securedintegrally to the bottom 32 of the reservoir1'30. IThe Iupper' roll section 36 is disposed concentrically with respect to bothithe cylindrical Fig- 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of theiiika 'Fig. 5 is a ottom plan view ofthe bottom'inkiiig 1 element and associated parts jshown'iriFig Z;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional viewio-fan inkingdevice embodying a modification or the invention; "and Fig.7 i's an enlarged vertical sectional viewof alportion Fi Therotary printing apparatus illustratedinFigsfiIS i d i ned fo s in e m a ur i madame "eg cartons, and it "has been selected as representative view of the drive shaft :shown ing device shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2' 2fand.

,greservoir '30 and the outside edges of the perforations 34in the bottom 32 thereof. .Theannular cavity 35 6xten'ds downwardly into an aligned lower roll sectionv38 having anupstanding centralcore 40, which extends up- Twardly above the outer peripheryof thelower roll section 1 ""38. .Theouter' periphery of the lower roll section 38 .is in axial alignment. with the .outerfperiphery of the 'upper roll section 36 and normally slightly spaced therefrom. Anexteriorly; threaded cylinder 42 projects down- ,wardly lfrom thejcenter of the .bottornl32 of the reservoir 230' .intolthreadedlengagement with' the {upper ,end of a cylindrical recess Adi'fo'rmed centrall y in the core 40. 1Tliisfa1rrangement resultsfinajth readed coupling between ii egpai d lupp r' an lower r6 e ions .36 and l hich'm ke fiit ssum. ach eve-a a rae and adjustment, 'o'f'ithe spacing betweenj'these sections, merely rotation of;t'he reservoir 30' tocause 'the,integrally 7 "carrie roll section 36 to rotate "with respecLtothe lower it A resilient-ring 46,- which is preferably composedot Billion 38.

neoprene and is circular in cross-section, is mounted concentrically in the space between the outer peripheries of the upper and lower roll sections 36 and 38. The ring 46 normally fills the Space between these sections, thereby functioning as a seal. for preventing ink supplied by the reservoir 30 from flowing out of the cavity 35. Radial compression of the ring 46, to cause inward displacement thereof, opens the space between the roll sections 36 and 38 to permit the ink to flow. This is accomplished by actuating the oscillatable arm 27 to cause sideways movement of the roll 17 into compressing relationship with the ring 46 at one point on its periphery. Continued movement of the roll 17 in this direction brings it completely into tangential ink transferring contact with both the upper and lower roll sections 36 and 38. At this time the ring 46 is compressed fully, so that it is flush with the outer peripheries of the roll sections 36 and 38 at the point of contact, and the ink therefore flows at its maximum rate. By adjusting the radial pressure applied by the roll 17 to compress the ring 46 to selected intermediate degrees, the rate of ink flow can be delicately adjusted in extremely small increments. Of course, ink is transferred to the roll 17 even when the ring 46 is compressed to less than the maximum possible extent, and the roll 17 is thereby not quite in contact with the peripheries of the upper and lower roll sections 36 and 38.

The roll 17 is preferably composed of rubber or neoprene in order to impart resilient characteristics thereto. Any suitable means may be employed to urge the roll 17 laterally into contact with the inking device 16. Such contact may be continuous, or frequent intermittent contact may be effected by imparting a regular oscillating movement to the arm 27 on which the roll 17 is mounted. The end of the arm 27 opposite the end thereof on which the roll 17 is mounted is secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 49 extending axially through a sleeve 48 fixed in a supporting plate 50. The

lower end of the shaft 49 is secured to another arm 51 which is connected through a spring 52 with an actuating lever 54. Suitable actuating means, such as an automatic pneumatic piston or a manually operated crank, may be employed to actuate the lever 54.

Rotary motion is imparted to the entire inking device 16 during the printing operation, and in order to prevent relative axial movement of the upper and lower roll sections 36 and 38, which movement would undesirably alter the rate of ink flow, the rotary motion is imparted simultaneously to both of these roll sections. A cylindrical collar 56 is secured to the upper portion of a rotatable vertical shaft 57 which extends downwardly through the supporting plate 50 and through another collar 58 having a lubrication fitting 59 thereon. dowel 60 (Figs. 2 and 4) projecting upwardly from the upper portion of the collar 56 near the outer periphery thereof fits into a matching socket formed in the bottom of the lower roll section 38 to transmit rotary motion thereto. The upper end of the shaft 57 is provided with a hexagonal socket 62 which mates with a hexagonal projection 64 formed centrally in the cylinder 42 which projects downwardly from the bottom 32 of the reservoir 30, thereby transmitting the same rotary motion to the upper roll section 36.

It is evidentthat this construction enables the inking device 16 to be readily removed and dismantled without even stopping the printing apparatus. Sufficient ink is carried on the intermediate transfer rolls 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 to enable printing operations to continue during the replacement of the inking device 16. The entire ink containing assembly comprising the reservoir 30 and the upper and lower roll sections 36 and 38 can be removed simply by lifting it off the upper end of the shaft 57. This assembly can then be readily disassembled by grasping the reservoir 30 and twisting it counterclockwise with respect to the lower roll section 38 to separate this section from the upper section 36.

Two critical adjustments are provided for metering the ink flow from the inking device 16. First consideration should be given to the axial spacing between the upper and lower roll sections 36 and 38. This spacing can be adjusted by rotating the reservoir 30 to cause the integrally carried upper roll section 36 to rotate with respect to the lower roll section 38, in the manner previously described. Secondly, the extent of compression of the ring 46 can be adjusted by varying the pressure applied thereto by the roll 17. Once the spacing of the roll sections 36 and 38 has been adjusted properly, these sections are locked in place by the combined action of the dowel 68 fitting in its socket, and the hexagonal projection 64 fitting in its socket 62. Although it is preferred to couple the pair of upper and lower roll sections 36. and 38 by means of the threaded engagement of the projecting cylinder 42 with the cylindrical recess 44, it is also contemplated that these sections could be coupled by a separate screw arranged to fit into a socket formed centrally in the bottom 32 of the reservoir 30, and said screw may'have a slotted flat head disposed flush with the bottom 32 when fully tightened. However, since this screw would usually be covered by the ink, -it would seldom be visible to enable it to be engaged by a screw driver for adjustment. It is evident that the preferred threaded coupling simplifies the adjustment and the cleaning of the inking device.

'In order to reduce the evaporation of solvents from the ink, and to prevent contamination thereof by dust and dirt, a removable cover 66 may be placed over the open-topped reservoir 30, if desired.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 an inking device 70 is designed for use with any suitable rotary printing apparatus, such as the apparatus for marking molded pulp egg cartons shown in Fig. 1. The inking device 70 consists of only two parts, namely, an upper roll section 72 and a lower roll section 74. The upper roll section 72 is provided with a hollow cylindrical interior 76, which functions as an ink reservoir, and is open at the top thereof. The lower roll section 74 is generally solid, and centrally of the top thereof t is provided with a generally frusto conical upwardly projecting portion 78, which serves as a bottom for the ink reservoir formed by the interior 76 of the upper roll section 72 when these sections are assembled superposed relationship, closely spaced in axial alignment. The bottom side of the lower roll section 74 is Provided with a large central recess 80 and a small recess 82 located at a radially intermediate point. These recesses are designed to receive a rotating shaft and a driving dowel (not shown), respectively, corresponding to the shaft 57 and thedowel 60 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of imparting rotary motion to the entire inking device 70 during printing operations.

The pair of roll sections 72 and 74 are normally aligned in flush relationship on their exterior peripheries,- and the upper section 72 is normally in contact with and resting on top of the lower section 74. Their meeting point is intermediate their combined height and below the midpoint thereof. At this point the bottom of the upper section 72 is provided with a beveled edge 84, which is inclined inwardly and upwardly at an angle of about 30 above horizontal, and the lower section 74 is provided with a matching beveled edge 85. Above the beveled edge 85 and at the base of the frusto conical, upwardly projecting portion 78, the lower section 74 is provided with an annular flange 86 concentric with and inwardly spaced slightly from the exterior periphery of the roll section 74. An annular groove 88 matching the contours of the flange 86 is formed at the bottom of the interior 76 of the upper roll section 72 just above the beveled edge 84. I T Normally, the weight of the upper roll section 72 restsmears "in on to of the'lower roll'section74 causes theinking ink from the reservoir formed -bythe interior 76 o'f'the upper roll section 72. The flow of ink may be induced when desired, by actuation of a rubber transfer roll 90, which corresponds in structure and in operation to the roll 17 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The roll 90'is moved laterally into tangential contact with the upper and lower roll sections 72 and 74, and continued urging of the roll 90 in this direction displaces the upper roll section 72 sideways with respect to the lower section 74. At the same time, the upper' section 7-2 may become slightly tilted, as shown in phantom lines in'F-i'g. 6,'and these sections are moved axially apart relatively, due to the inclination of their meeting beveled edges 84 and 85, thereby allowing ink to escape. The 'roll'sections 72 and 74 may be separated in this manner to an extent-determined by the pressure applied by the roll 90, and within the limit allowed by the interlocking ofthe flange 86 with the groove 88. Since this pressure can be accurately controlled, the flow of ink can be regulated very finely. It is evident that the separation may occur principally on the side of the inking device 70 opposite to the side on which the roll 90 is pressing, and that the ink is then carried around and distributed over the roll 90 during their simultaneous rotation in contact.

The inking device 70 is provided with only one adjustment for metering the flow of ink, and that adjustment is the pressure applied by the transfer roll'90. However,

in most cases this allows the flow to be regulated with sufficient accuracy. -It is evident that the simplicity of the construction and assembly of the inking device 70 allows it to be quickly and easily removed and disassembled for cleaning or replacement. I

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departingafrom the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicatedinthe appended transfer roll laterally into tangential contact with said roll sections and into compressing relationship with the sealing-means, thereby opening the sealing means to permit the ink to flow. V v

2. An inking device for rotary printing apparatus, comprising a pair of cylindrical roll -sections superposed in closelyispa'ced axial alignment and internally containing a supply of ink, sealing means mounted between said sections for normally preventing the escape of ink, said":

sealing means being capable of opening when it is radially compressed at one point on its periphery to cause inward displacement thereof, a cylindrical transfer roll mounted adjacent to said roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact under pressure with said roll sections and into compressing relationship with the sealing means, thereby resulting in opening the sealing means to permit the ink to flow, and means for controlling the pressure applied by the transfer roll to regulate the flow of ink.

3. An inking device for rotary printing apparatus, comprising a pair of cylindrical roll sections superposed in closely spaced axial alignment andinternally contain ing a supply of ink, a resilient ring mounted concentri- Cally between said sections for normally sealing the space "adjacent'to said roll sections, and means for moving the 4 between them'topreventthe escape of-ink, a cylindrical 'transferroll mounted adjacent to said-roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact under pressure with said roll sections, said movement bringing the transfer roll into compressing-engagement with'the ring at one point on its periphery and causing inward displacement thereof, thereby opening the space between said sections to permit the ink to flow, and means for controlling'the pressure applied by the transfer roll to regulate the flow of ink.

4. An inking device for 'rotary printing apparatus, comprising a pair of upper and lower cylindrical roll sectionssuperposcd in closely spaced axial alignmentand internallycontaining asupply of ink, said'sections having their adjacent edges beveled and'arranged to cooperate in normally forming 'a seal therebetween for preventing the escape ofink, said'upper section beingcapable of lateral displacement relative to-said lower section along said beveled edges to open the seal, a cylindrical transfer roll mounted adjacent to said ro-ll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact under pressure with said roll sections, saidmovement causing sutficient lateral displacement of the upper roll section to separate the sections and open the seal, thereby permitting the ink to flow, and means for controlling the pressure applied by the'transfer roll to regulate the flow of ink;

H S. An inking device for rotary printing apparatus, comprising a pair of cylindrical roll'sections having an internal-cavity containing a supply of'ink, said sections *being superposed in'closely spaced axial alignment and "being relatively movable axially to adjust the space between them,' a resilient ring mounted concentrically between said sections for normally sealing the space between them to prevent'theescape ofink, a cylindrical transfer rollmounted adjacent to said roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact under pressure with said roll-sections, said movement bringing a shortspace, an internal threaded coupling connecting said sections and rendering them relatively movable axially to adjust the space'between them, a'resilie'nt'ring mounted concentrically in-the space between thesections for normally sealing-this space to'prevent the escape 'of -'ink, 'acylindrical transfer roll mounted adjacent to'said roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangentialcontact under pressure with said roll section's, said movement bringing the transfer roll into compressing engagement with the ring at one point'on-its' periphery and causing "inward displacement thereof, thereby opening the space between said sections to permit the ink to flow, and means for controlling the pressure applied by the transfer roll to regulate the flow of ink..

7. An inking device for rotary printing apparatus, comprising a pair of cylindrical upper and lower roll sections having an internal cavity containing a supply of ink, a cylindrical ink reservoir superposed upon the upper roll section and communicating with the cavity therein, said roll sections being mounted in axial alignment with their exterior peripheries in flush alignment and normally separated by a short space, an internal threaded coupling connecting said sections and rendering them relatively movable axially to adjust the space between them, a resilient ring mounted concentrically in the space between the sections for, normally sealing this space to prevent 2 the'escape of ink, a cylindrical transfer roll mounted adjacent to said roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact under pressure with said roll sections, said movement bringing the transfer roll into compressing engagement with the ring at one point-on its periphery and causing inward displacement thereof, thereby opening the space between said sections to permit the ink to flow, and means for controlling the pressure applied by the transfer roll to regulate the flow of ink. v I

8. An inking device for rotary printing apparatus, comprising a pair of cylindrical upper and lower roll sections having an internal cavity containing a supply of ink, a cylindrical ink reservoir superposed upon and integrally joined to the upper roll section, said reservoir having a perforated bottom for allowing ink to flow by gravity into the cavity in said roll sections, said roll sections being mounted in axial alignment with their exterior peripheries in flush alignment and normally separated by a short space, an internal threaded coupling connecting said sections and rendering them relatively movable axially to adjust the space between them, a resilient ring mounted concentrically in the space between the sections for normally sealing this space to prevent the escape of ink, a cylindrical transfer roll mounted adjacent to said roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact under pressure with said roll sections, said movement bringing the transfer roll into compressing engagement with the ring at one point on its periphery and causing inward displacement thereof, thereby opening the space between said sections to permit the ink to flow, means for controlling the pressure applied by the transfer roll to regulate the flow of ink, and means for imparting rotary motion to both roll sections simultaneously during printing operations.

9. The invention defined by claim 8 in which said roll sections are removably seated on the upper end of a rotatable vertical shaft for imparting rotary motion thereto, said shaft extending axially through the lower roll section into locking engagement with the upper roll section, and a driving dowel mounted on a collar secured to said shaft for engaging the lower roll section to impart rotary motion thereto simultaneously.

10. An inking device for rotary printing apparatus, comprising a pair of cylindrical upper and lower roll sections superposed in axial alignment and internally containing a supply of ink, said upper roll section normally being in contact with and resting upon the top of the lower section and being capable of lateral displacement relative toathe lower section, said sections having their adjacent peripheral edges beveled and arranged to meet in sealing engagement, the weight of the upper section normally keeping the edges in sealing engagement to prevent the escape of ink, a cylindrical transfer roll mounted adjacent to said roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact under pressure with said roll sections, said movement causing sufficient lateral displacement of the upper roll section along said beveled edges to separate the sections and open the seal,

thereby permitting the ink to flow, and means for conlate the flow of ink.

11. An inking device for rotary printing apparatus,

comprising a pair ofv cylindrical upper and lower roll sections superposed in axial alignment with their outer peripheries normally in flush relationship, said upper roll having a hollow interior serving as an ink reservoir and said lower roll having a solid interior serving as a bottom for the ink reservoir, said upper roll section normally being in contact with and resting upon the top of the lower section and being capable of lateral displacement relative to the lower section, said sections having their adjacent peripheral edges beveled and arranged to meet in sealing engagement, the weight of the upper section normally keeping the edges in sealing engagement to prevent the escape of ink, a cylindrical transfer roll mounted adjacent to said roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact under pressure with said roll sections, said movement causing sufficient lateral and axial displacement of the upper roll section along said beveled edges to separate the sections and open the seal, thereby permitting the ink to flow, and means for controlling the pressure applied by the transfer roll to regulate the flow of ink.

12. The invention defined by claim 11 in which the beveled peripheral edges of the roll sections are inclined inwardly and upwardly at an angle of about 30 from horizontal, and the lower section is provided with an annular flange which interlocks with an annular groove formed on the upper section for limiting the extent of displacement of the upper section when the transfer roll is actuated to permit the ink to flow.

13. An inking device for rotary printing apparatus, comprising a pair of upper and lower cylindrical roll sections having an internal cavity containing a supply of ink, said sections being superposed in axial alignment with their exterior peripheries normally separated by a short space and being relatively movable axially to adjust said space, a resilient ring having a circular cross-section mounted concentrically in said space between the adjacent peripheries of said sections for normally sealing the space to prevent the escape of ink, said ring normally protruding outwardly beyond said peripheries and being capable of inward displacement when radially compressed to'open the seal, a cylindrical transfer roll mounted adjacent to said roll sections, means for moving the transfer roll into tangential contact with said roll sections and into compressing relationship with the ring at one point on its periphery to cause inward displacement thereof, thereby opening the seal between said sections to permit the ink to flow, and means for controlling the pressure applied by the transfer roll to regulate the flow of the ink.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McKay July 31, 1951 

